EMERALDS ABC fighter Connor Gray has been crowned national junior champion at 67kg after defeating Travis Biddle, of Kettering School of Boxing.

The 18-year-old’s unanimous points victory at Hayes Working Men’s Club saw Gray become the Chippenham club’s fifth national champion.

Meanwhile, Emeralds staged their first home show of the year last weekend at The Neeld Hall in Chippenham, with 14 bouts on the card.

Katie Doig, 11, was the first home fighter in action as she made her debut in a skills bout against Lauryn Hitchcock, of Lympstone ABC.

Jaden King was next up for Emeralds but the 15-year-old fell to a unanimous points defeat to Barnstaple ABC’s Jed Davies, before debutant Sam Miller, 18, claimed the club’s first win of the night when he beat Daniel Peck, of Relentless Boxing Gym, by a unanimous decision.

Debutant Jamie Cross then lost a unanimous decision to Salopian ABC fighter Tom Jenkins before Luciano Baio claimed a third round knockout win over Steve Priest, of Launceston ABC.

Last up for Emeralds was Gray, fresh from his national championship win, as he took on Barnstaple ABC’s Liam Laird in his first bout as a senior.

Laird was vastly more experienced than Gray and that played a part in the outcome. Both men gave everything and were named best home and best away fighters of the evening, with Gray losing a very close points decision.